Lengthy deployments like the USS Lincoln’s hurt military mental health

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Iran to create 'restricted zone' around Strait of Hormuz

Iran to create 'restricted zone' around Strait of Hormuz

The USS Abraham Lincoln left San Diego last November for what was supposed to be a six-month deployment. Instead, the carrier went to sea for more than 250 days and was on pace for the second-longest deployment on record since the Vietnam War. 

The title for the longest modern-era carrier deployment is held by the USS Gerald R. Ford, which spent 326 days at sea — a record set back in May.

The increasing frequency of these long missions raises a serious question: Is the U.S. government doing enough to support the brave men and women aboard these ships as they work tirelessly to protect America’s national security? 

Those who have endured long deployments know firsthand the toll these prolonged missions can have on service members’ mental state. The USS Lincoln’s extended time away “can lead to serious mental health issues during deployment, upon return from it, or after completion of military service,” says John Stewart, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant.  

Reports of poor conditions aboard these carriers are troubling. Last spring, during the USS Ford’s 10th month of deployment, a fire broke out on board that displaced 600 sailors from their beds. Many were forced to sleep on floors and tables throughout the ship.

According to family accounts of those aboard the USS Lincoln, reports of food........

© The Hill